Car truck



Dec. 26, 1933. J. J. TATUM 1,941,159

GAR TRUCK Filed June 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIQTOR. I 52 1 5 @NJ.4 TTORNEK Dec. 26, 1933. I J J: TATUM 1,941,159

CAR TRUCK Filed June 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Dec. 26, 1933. 1 J TATUM 1,941,159

CAR TRUCK Filed June 16, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 'Q Q W ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 26, 1 933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an articulated, oscillating,lateral motion truck, designed to eliminate to a maximum wheel flangewear, rail wear and train resistance, thereby making possible greatertonnage hauls at less cost by locomotives, either steam or electric,used for pulling trains.

Trucks now commonly used are, to a more or less extent, rigidlyconstructed, causing excessive rail and Wheel flange wear, and trainresistance. My new truck lessens side thrusts on the flange of thewheel, thereby insuring greater safety, less train resistance, andgreater tonnage being hauled, over the conventional truck now in generaluse; my improved truck follows closely the conventional design of truckand will be manufactured at about the same cost.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a part of a truck embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is. a detail bottom plan view of a cast steel side frame inwhich the leg of the pedestal A selves in a curve without binding. Thestops 15,

is formed radial on its sides.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the journal boxand the side frame showing theroller bearing between them.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of journal box andassociated parts.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of another embodiment of myinvention. v

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view of another modification.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a truck, showingthe center plate and side bearings, and roller bearings for end ofbolster on side frame.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of side frame bolster and car wheel,showing the relative radial movement of wheel, journal box withreference to the pedestal legs.

The reference numeral 11 designates the side frame of a truck having thepedestal legs 12,-

which according to my invention have their inner faces concaved orformed on a radius thus form-' journal box, or the journal box under theside frame, or the positioning of the wheel in a curve,

ures 1 and 2, is spaced at each end at its sides -to a prescribedextent.

vceive rollers 28 whereby the ends of the bolsters thus allowing suchparts to move. freely to a position without causing any binding orresisting effect.

On the top of the journal box are formed a plurality of roller seats 16extending transversely or from side to side of the box with a stop 17 ateach end, in which are loosely seated rollers 18. The seats 16 are,preferably, separated by a partition 19 to prevent the rollers 18grinding against each other. In the under face of that portion of theside frame 11 which overlies the journal box, and is disposed betweenthe pedestal legs, are formed a plurality of roller bearings 20 whichextend lengthwise of the side frame. The bearings 20 are provided withstops 21 at their ends, and are adapted to receive the rollers 18,thereby forming a roller bearing between the journal box and the sideframe, which permits the side frame to roll laterally, or the journalbox can roll laterally under the side frame, or these parts can havelimited relative pivotal movements on the roller bearings making itpossible for the wheels of the truck to position themabove referred to,as stated, limit the movement of the side frame on the journal box, orthe journal box under the side frame or the positioning of the wheel ina curve.

The bolster 22, as shown in dotted lines in Figfrom its guide columns onthe truck frame to permit each end of the bolster to pivot to a certaindegreeand thereby allow the opposite end of the bolster to swingforwardly or rearwardly The bolster 22, as shown in dotted lines inFigures 1 and 2, is spaced at its sides from its guide columns on thetruck frame to permit each end of the-bolster to pivot to a certaindegree to allow the opposite end of the bolster to swing forwardly orrearwardly. In Figure 9 I show the bolster 22 provided-in its under faceat the end portion with concaved roller seats orbearings 23, separatedby a partition 24, while the upper face of the spring plate 25 isprovided with a plurality of roller seats or bearings 26 separated bythe partition 27; these seats in the bolster and spring plate extend inthe direction of the length of the side frame, and are adapted to re-'are mounted on the rollers 28 which permit lateral movement of thebolster with freedom of tilting motion of "the bolster ends on theradial bearing faces to theextent limited by the stops on the journalbox. At the same time lateral movement is being made of the side frameon the journal box, or of the journal box under the side frame,providing maximum freedom of these parts to find a free and easymovement of the wheels in a curve. In actual service it is found thatthese bearings permit the parts to freely adjust themselves on a sharpcurve, or a curve so sharp that two cars cannot be coupled together, andpulled around a curve without derailing the trucks when the cars areequipped with the conventional type of truck now in general use.

The radial or convex faces 13 of the pedestal legs permits one sideframe and the adjacent end of the bolster 22 to travel for a givendistance ahead of the other side frame and opposite end of the bolsterand permits the journal box to move radially between the pedestal legs.These conditions provide for a simultaneous movement of the side framelaterally on the journal box, or the journal box under the side frame.At the same time the journal box can move radially in the side frame andthe bolster laterally in the truck, permitting the side frame to moveforward or backward at the same time to prevent any resistance thatmight be brought upon any part of the truck in finding its freedom inthe movement through a curved track.

It will thus be seen that the journal boxes and the bolsters are mountedso as to be passively movable in the pedestals and bolster openings, bywhich I mean, that they are unattached to the side frame, and merelyhave a guided engagement with the side frame such as to permit afloating motion between the journal boxes and bolsters and the sideframe, as well as a relative radial (pivotal) motion between them,whereby an articulating truck action is produced which, because of thevertical, lateral and pivotal movements of the journal boxes and bolsterends in their guides and on their roller bearings, eliminates allbinding of these parts in the adjust-' ments of the wheels to varyingtrack surfaces.

Therefore the flanges of the wheels are relieved 45- curves and causingflange and rail resistance to ofpressure against the rails when roundingfree travel and the wheels are allowed to have a free-wheeling action inadjusting themselves to curve and other track variations in order toeliminate such track and wheel friction which causes resistance totravel and rough riding of the running gear. It will be evident alsothat the described mode of mounting the journal boxes.

and bolsters reduces the number of working parts and facilitatesassemblage, disassemblage and repairs of such parts of the running gear.Should it be desired, for example, to remove the side frame from thetruck for repairs or replacements, this may be effected by simplyremoving the springs from the side frame, whereupon the roller seat capmay be lowered to a position to disengage the guides and stops from thebolster. Thereupon the side frame may be disconnected from the truck andremoved without the necessity of removing or disturbingthe bolster.

Pr frably the two truck side frames are conby the tie 29 pivoted at 30to the said fram so as to prevent resistance at that point. 30w is anarm to receive the brake head and it is of such width that it provides aspace wider than the width of the brake head, so that the brake headscan shift with the brake beam laterally following the movement of thewheel laterally under pressure of. the wheel flanges in the curve.

By this meansthere is an elimination of restrictions to the lateraladjustments of the wheels to the truck due to the action ofnon-compensating brake shoes bearing against the flanges of the wheelsand inhibiting such wheel adjustments, such as occurs in conventionalcar trucks in which the brake heads are held from lateral adjustment.

Referring to Figure '7, it will be seen that in place of forming theroller bearings in the under face of the side frame, I provide a rollercap 31, having roller seats 32 in its under face, and that this cap ispivotally connected to the side frame by means of a boss 33 which isseated in a recess 34 in the under face of the side frame 11, whichconstruction also provides for free radial movement of the journal boxbetween the pedestal legs of the side frame.

In Figure 8 I provide a ball and socket joint 35 between the cap 31 andside frame 11 which will provide up and down movement of the side frameon opposite sides of the truck as well as radial movement to insure aperfect positioning of the journal box and bearing on the journal of theaxle. In other words, this connection is provided so that any shortclips that may be on one side of the track and not on the other indirect line will not affect the uniform straight bearing of the journalbearing on the journal.

In Figure 5 I have shown another embodiment of my invention. In thisconstruction the roller cap 36 is provided with a boss 37 and the sideframe is provided with a similar boss 38, both bosses being in verticalalignment with each other, one end of a spring 39 being seated on boss38 while the other end is seated on boss 37 of the cap. One end ofspring 40 is seated around the cap boss 3'7, while its other end isseated around the boss 38. If preferred, these springs may be used inaddition to those usually employed under the bolster. 7

Referring to Figure 9, it will be seen that the wearing surface of thetop of the side bearing shoe or block 41 is made convex so that there isonly a small contact of the side bearings in the center. This, ascompared with the usual flat surfaces, reduces the resistance of theradial movement of a truck in a curve under the car. It will be notedthat the bearing face of the side bearing 42, on the body of the car hasa plain flat surface which has a comparatively small contact with theconvex face of the side bearing 41 on'the bolster 22. It will also benoted that the center bearing 43 on the bolster also has a convexbearing face and that the center bearing 44 on the car body has a plainflat face, thus reducing surface resistance. This arrangement of thecenter bearing is also used to insure free radial action of the truckunder the car. Likewise, all of the means herein disclosed cooperate toprovide for free action of the various parts of the truck throughout itsconstruction in a curve under a car and insure freedom of action toprevent wearing of the"se'veral parts and to prevent rough riding andreduce travel friction between running gear and rails, allowing trainsto be hauled at greater speed or longer and heavier trains to be drawnby a locomotive of given size and power. The journal box herein shownprovides for A. R. A. standard journal bearings, journal bearing wedges,dust guards, box lids, and permits the use of A. R. A. standard wheelsand axles with A. R. A. standardjournals.

Referring to Figure 9, it will be seen that I provide the floor 45 ofthe side frame at its outer 15 and inner edges with upstanding flanges46. These flanges function as a reinforcing truss for V the center ofthe side frame against sagging under load; and they also provide a stopto prevent the bolster springs 4'7 from slipping out of their positionunder the bolster and .being lost. Again these flanges reinforce thecorner at the junction of the column and bottom member of the frame asat 48. Considering the arm a as a truss the side frame is thus providedwith a quadruple center truss.

Again referring to Figure 8 of the drawings, it will be understood thatthe journal box is positioned between two pedestal legs (as shown in theother figures) cast integral with the .side frame and permitted to moveradially in a vertical position, because the bearing provides actionsimilar to a hinged joint when the journal box is required to moveradially in a vertical position. The journal boxes move radially invertical position in my improved trucks should there be a short clip inthe track on one side of the truck that does not exist on the oppositeside, thus insuring flexibility that will prevent the wheel flange fromriding over the track of the low rail, whichis possible to occur onrigid construction trucks.

It will, of course, be understood that the truck can be made to functionwithout rollers under the bolster, providing rollers are used on thejournal boxes or can be used with rollers under the bolster withoutrollers on the journal boxes.

The space provided between the jaws of the brake beam suspension arm 30ais such that the truck frame may be slidably mounted therebetween tomove laterally on the rollers without changing the relation of the brakeshoe on the car wheel, as the brake head can slip laterally between thejaws of the arm in the opposite direction from the movement of the truckside frame on the journal boxes, thus insuring maintenance of the samerelation of the brake shoe to the wheel at all times.

What I claim is:

1. In a car truck, a side frame, a pedestal integral with said frame,roller bearings at the top of the pedestal, a journal box movably seatedon said bearings in the pedestal, radial faces on the legs of thepedestal adjacent said box to permit of a radial movement of the box inthe pedestal, another bearing on the side frame, a bolster mounted onthe second named bearing with freedom of movement, relative to the sideframes, whereby one side frame may travel for-a given distance ahead ofthe other, and the journal box may move radially between the pedestallegs, and simultaneously the side frames may move laterally withreference to the journal box, thereby eliminating all resistance in thetruck structure in. the wheels finding freedom in movement in a curvedtrack. 2. In a car truck, a side frame, a pedestal integral with saidframe, roller bearings at the top 'of the pedestal, a journal boxmovably seated on said bearing in the pedestal, radial faces on the legsof the pedestal adjacent said box to permit of a radial movement of thebox in the pedestal, another bearing on the side frame, a bolstermounted on the second-named bearing with freedom of movement, wherebyone side frame may travel for a given distance ahead of the other, andthe journal box may move radially between the pedestal legs, andsimultaneously the side frames may move laterally with reference to thejournal box, thereby eliminating all resistance in the truck structurein the wheels finding freedom in movement in a curved track, and a tierod extending between the side frames and pivotally connected at itsends to said frames.

3. In a free-wheeling running gear for railway cars, a truck having aside frame provided with a bolster receiving opening, and a truck-bolster loosely mounted for floating motion in said opening in saidside frame, the bolster and side walls of the opening having. opposedcontact surfaces with free clearance spaces therebetween and engageablefor vertical and lateral sliding and radial swinging movements to permitfree independent or simultaneous relative vertical, lateral and radialmovements of the side frame and bolster, and lateral motionanti-friction bearing surfaces between their opposed upper horizontalfaces permitting independent relative lateral and radial movements ofthe side frame and bolster.

- JOHN J. TATUM.

Ill

